What started as a $4–6 million estimate turned into a heated bidding battle on the auction floor at Sotheby’s New York. With auctioneer Phyllis Kao on the rostrum, this mounted juvenile Ceratosaurus skeleton that was unearthed from the Morrison Formation in Wyoming and impeccably preserved down to its 43 razor-sharp teeth skyrocketed to a final sale price of $30,510,000 — five times its initial estimate.
More than just a relic, this fossil captured the imagination of collectors and natural history lovers alike. The auction results make it the third most valuable dinosaur ever sold, with last year's APEX the Stegosaurus holding the current world record. The prehistoric find was a highlight of our Natural History auction, also featuring the largest piece of Mars on Earth.
Watch the full battle unfold and find out what made this dinosaur so irresistible.
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Watch the full documentary: What Makes This D...